Containment pond

ABSTRACT

A containment pond comprising: an impermeable membrane having a bottom, and continuous sides forming an open-top container. Each side is adapted with a loop of same impermeable membrane so as to form a sleeve longitudinal to all sides. Each side sleeve is adapted with primary and secondary forming members slidably engaged within each said sleeve. The two primary forming members facing each other have a length equal to its mating sleeve, and the two secondary forming members perpendicular to the primary members are each in two sections, divided at the center of their length. When the secondary forming members are pulled apart slightly from each other, the containment pond can be collapsed into a much smaller package by gathering the secondary center portion toward each other. Conversely, said pond can be erected in mere seconds by reversing the above.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to containment devices, especially those in the decontamination industry. The containment pond of the present invention comprises: an impermeable membrane having a bottom, and continuous sides forming an open-top container. Each side is adapted with a loop of same impermeable membrane so as to form a sleeve longitudinal to all sides. Each side sleeve is adapted with primary and secondary forming members slidably engaged within each said sleeve. The two primary forming members facing each other have a length equal to its mating sleeve, and the two secondary forming members perpendicular to the primary members are each in two sections, divided at the center of their length. When the secondary forming members are pulled apart slightly from each other, the containment pond can be collapsed into a much smaller package by gathering the secondary center portion toward each other. Conversely, said pond can be erected in mere seconds by reversing the above.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

There are two primary industries, which would benefit from the present invention; one is firefighting, and the other, toxic de-contamination. In firefighting, the present invention may be used as a cooling pool to help quickly lower firefighters' body temperature. In toxic decontamination, the present invention will serve to erect a containment device as quickly as possible in order to begin an eco-friendly decontamination of a person or item.

The inventor sought to provide industry with a portable containment pond that stores in a most compact space, erects very quickly, holds a large volume of liquid, and have side members that can collapse downwardly for easy traverse into said pond.

The applicant is aware of attempts in prior art to provide means of portably containing liquid.

Of these attempts, many surely provide containment means, however, erection thereof is comparatively lengthy or cumbersome.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

It is thus the object of the present invention to provide industry with a portable containment pond that stores in a most compact space, erects very quickly, holds a large volume of liquid, and have side members that can collapse downwardly for easy traverse into said pond.

In one aspect of the invention, the impermeable membrane is puncture resistant to withstand general abuse from normal use.

In another aspect of the invention, the side forming members may comprise any material suitable to perform the below-described function.

In another aspect of the invention, the dimensions and geometry, although omitted from the present application, may vary to any logically usable dimensions and geometry.

Accordingly, the device of the present invention therefore provides industry with a portable containment pond that stores in a compact space, erects very quickly, holds a large volume of liquid, and has side members that can collapse downwardly for easy traverse into said pond.

The utility of the present invention includes but is not limited to cooling of firefighters and decontamination.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

These and other advantages of the invention will become apparent upon reading the following brief description and upon referring to the drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view from above of containment pond of the present invention as shown with a side member collapsed.

FIG. 2 is a top plan view of the containment pond of the present invention in an erect state.

FIG. 3 is a top plan view of the containment pond of the present invention in a collapsed state.

FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view taken along arrows 4-4 from FIG. 2 of the containment pond of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view taken along arrows 5-5 from FIG. 2 of the containment pond of the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view taken along arrows 6-6 from FIG. 2 of the containment pond of the present invention.

While the invention is described in conjunction with preferred illustrated embodiments, it will be understood that it is not intended to limit the invention to such embodiments. On the contrary, it is intended to cover all alternatives, modifications and equivalents as may be included within the spirit and scope of the invention as defined by the appended claims.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

In the following description, similar features in the drawings have been given similar reference numerals.

Turning to FIG. 1, a perspective view from above the containment pond of the present invention comprising; an impermeable membrane having a bottom, and continuous sides 4 forming an open-top container. Each side 4 is adapted with a loop of same impermeable membrane so as to form a sleeve 6 longitudinal to all sides 4. Each side sleeve 6 is adapted with primary and secondary forming members 8 and 10 slidably engaged within each said sleeve 6. The two primary forming members 8 facing each other have a length equal to its mating sleeve 6, and the two secondary forming members 10 perpendicular to the primary members 8 are each in two sections, divided at the center of their length. Additionally, each half of the secondary forming members 10 is adapted with a perforation 12 therethrough so as to provide gripping means to pull said secondary member halves apart When the secondary forming members 10 are partially slid out from their respective sleeves 6, the center portion of said sleeve 6 become hollow thus enabling said sleeve 6 to collapse when a load is applied thereon. When the primary and secondary forming members 8 and 10 are fully inserted within their respective sleeve 6, a sturdy containment pond is created, yet pulling the secondary forming members 10 slightly outwardly by inserting one's fingers into the perforations 12 enables the sleeve membrane to fold onto itself when the centers of both secondary forming members 10 are drawn toward each other.

Since the inner sides 4 and the bottom 2 are of one sheet, and the vertical portions of each corner are fixedly bonded to each other, the result is that liquid may be filled to or near the upper edge of the sides 4 thus forming an open-top pond-like container.

Turning now to FIG. 2, a top plan view of the containment pond of the present invention in an erect state where it can be better seen that the primary forming members 8 are of equal length to their mating sleeve 6, and the secondary forming members, including both halves, are of a length equal to the adjacent inner bottom length plus the thickness of two primary forming members 8, effectively making the secondary forming members' 10 length flush with the outer most dimension of the pond.

FIG. 3, again a top plan view of the containment pond of the present invention in a collapsed state wherein the secondary forming members 10 have been pulled slightly outwardly from their sleeve 6, the bottom pulled up and gathered while the secondary forming members 10 are folded inwardly toward each other thus allowing the primary forming members to draw closely toward each other, collapsing the whole containment pond in the smallest volume geometrically possible.

In FIGS. 4, a cross-sectional view taken along arrows 4-4 from FIG. 2, it can be seen how the secondary forming members 10 are divided in two separate equal portions both inserted into their corresponding sleeve 6 outside the inner side portion 4 of the pond, and each outer end thereof extends to a distance equal to that of the outer most dimension of the pond. Furthermore, perforations 12 through each said outer end of the secondary forming members 10 are located near said ends so as to provide gripping means visible from the outside of the pond when erected thus enabling user to quickly pull the secondary forming members 10 apart when so desired.

FIG. 5, illustrating a cross-sectional view taken along arrows 5-5 also from FIG. 2, depict the arrangement of the primary forming member 8 located between the secondary forming members 10. Said primary forming members 8 remain in a fixed position within their mating sleeves at all times.

Referring now to FIG. 6, a cross-sectional view taken along arrows 6-6 from FIG. 2 wherein the bottom 2 and inner side 4 is shown and it can also be seen that the edges of the bottom 2 extend upwardly, forming the sides 4, then outwardly to a distance generally equal to that of the thickness of the forming members 8, then downwardly along the outermost face of the forming members 8, and finally, inwardly under said forming members 8, but overlapping the lower surface of the bottom 2 sufficiently to allow proper bonding of said overlap 14 and bottom 2. Accordingly, the above arrangement thereby forms a sleeve 6 in which the forming members are longitudinally and slidably engaged.

Upon referring to the drawing figures and the above specification, it can be understood that the containment pond of the present invention provides both the firefighting, and the toxic de-contamination industries with a portable containment pond that stores in a compact space, erects very quickly, holds a large volume of liquid, and has side members that can collapse downwardly for easy traverse thereinto. 

1. A containment pond comprising: i. a bottom, ii. continuous sides, iii. primary and secondary forming members, iv. sleeves for retaining forming members, and v. gripping means
 2. The containment pond of claim 1 wherein the bottom, sides and sleeves thereof are fabricated from a single sheet of flexible impermeable material.
 3. The containment pond of claims 1 and 2 wherein the corner portion of the inner side members are fixedly bonded to each other, forming an impermeable corner portion.
 4. The containment pond of claim 1 wherein sleeves are by; extending the outer edges of the bottom upwardly to a height equal to the height of a forming member, then outwardly to a distance generally equal to that of the thickness of a forming member, then downwardly along the outermost face of a forming member, and finally, inwardly under said forming member, but overlapping the lower surface of the bottom sufficiently to allow proper bonding of said overlap and bottom.
 5. The containment pond of claim 1 wherein the forming members include a symmetrical pair of primary and a secondary forming member and that the primary forming members are of one piece each having semi-rigid properties and a length generally equal to the inner dimensions between opposite inner sides.
 6. The containment pond of claims 1 and 5 wherein the secondary forming members each comprise two separate halves also having semi-rigid properties and a combined length generally equal to the outer dimensions of the pond.
 7. The containment pond of claims 1, 5 and 6 wherein the secondary forming members are slidably engaged within mating sleeves and when said secondary forming members are fully inserted within a common sleeve, a generally semi-rigid side is formed, and when the secondary forming members are mostly pulled outwardly from their mating sleeve, the sleeve can thereby be collapsed by applying a load atop hollow portion of said sleeve.
 8. The containment pond of claims 1 through 7 wherein the utility thereof in firefighting is, to be used as a cooling pool to help quickly lower firefighters' body temperature, and in toxic decontamination, to erect a containment device as quickly as possible in order to begin an eco-friendly decontamination of a person or item. 